Twin Valley softball team splits four games, hits middle point of season

by
Jack DemingDeerfield Valley News

May 09, 2013 | 1473 views | 0 | 20 | |

Twin Valley’s softball team stayed above .500 with two road victories this week, but lost two at home to split the week’s games.

Black River 20, TV 9

Twin Valley began the week with a tough loss to Black River, who swamped the Wildcats’ defense with hits into the gaps in the second inning. Abby Putnam made her first start on the mound this season and coach Aaron Wood said the game was a lot closer than the 20-9 final score shows, but a consistent committal of errors put the game out of reach. Sammy Cunningham-Darrah went 2-3 with three RBIs to lead the Wildcat offense.

TV 21 Poultney 16

Visiting Poultney on Saturday, the Wildcats got a much-needed 21-16 win. The Wildcat defense stood out, and Coach Wood said for the first time he felt his defense played very solid all around.

Skylar Pronovost and Christina Moore would hit a bases-clearing triple and double respectively in the middle frames, and Twin Valley never let the match out of their control. Abby Putnam once again got the start for the Wildcats, pitching all seven innings, and while she did not have any strikeouts, she threw strikes. Twin Valley made a number of errors in the last inning, allowing Poultney to cut the lead in half, but Twin Valley broke their dry spell for the win.

TV 12, West Rutland 9

The Wildcat girls continued to roll on Monday with a visit to West Rutland and a 12-9 victory.

Once again the defense stepped up as Hannah Swanson recorded another big day defensively at shortstop, turning four double plays. Abby Putnam, starting her third game in a row, kept the walks to a minimum and once again Coach Wood was able to say it was his team’s best defensive effort.

“We have struggled in the beginning of the season, but when you look at the scores of these games, anyone can beat anyone, but you can’t give free passes and walks.”

Sammy Cunningham-Darrah once again came up with a 2-3 effort from the plate including a triple, and recorded three RBIs.

Proctor 16, TV 6

With Proctor visiting on Tuesday, the Wildcats were looking for their first home victory of the year, but the Phantoms were able to pull away late and deny the ‘Cats the win, taking a 16-6 victory.

After three innings, the Wildcats were down a manageable 3-1, but the wheels fell off in the fourth as Abby Putnam began to give up walks and the Twin Valley defense made mistakes. Proctor was able to score 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to put the game out of reach.

Twin Valley will face Arlington at home on Thursday at 4:30 pm, then face a tough test on Saturday with a visit from Leland & Gray.